The Eagles Still Like Vick

One of the questions surrounding the Eagles all season was the chances Mike Vick would return to Philadelphia. The chatter got louder as soon as Chip Kelly was hired as coach. Today, the question was answered when the Eagles kept Vick and restructured his deal.

Predictions have been loud and frequent since Kelly was hired, but it seems that Chip Kelly thinks that Vick can run his offense. It will be interesting to see how the former Oregon Ducks head coach will change his offense and tactics for the NFL, but the athleticism of Vick was something he must have felt he could not let go. Vick has a long history of pulling the ball down too early and being unable to read defenses at a level needed to be a top notch signal caller. Kelly's offense, if successful, should be able to allow Vick to know when he has to run or cut down on his reads.

This won't be the last interesting move that Kelly makes this season. After all, Peter King reported that he had hired the first "sports science coordinator" in league history. Said King:

He is Shaun Huls, who, according to USA Today, trained Navy SEAL before Chip Kelly hired him to help train the Philadelphia Eagles. I keep hearing from people who know Kelly that he's going to do some counter-football culture stuff with these Eagles, so get ready for the unorthodox. Here it comes.

No matter what, the move gives flexibility to the roster and for what Kelly might like to do. I wonder if the Cardinals are interested in Nick Foles?

I was going to make a cynical comment about "counter-football culture stuff," but hey, nothing wrong with trying new things.

And I must say that I am relieved. I in no way shape of form wish to open yet another Michael Vick discussion, but this means that there is no chance that he'll be coming to Bufflo. That would have put me in a dilemma.

I don't think Kelly thinks Vick can run his offense. Its more like that there aren't very many good alternatives for what Kelly needs and Vick is the closest QB out there who can run his style of offense. Although Kelly isn't going to run the same offense that he ran in Oregon anyway.

I don't think Kelly thinks Vick can run his offense. Its more like that there aren't very many good alternatives for what Kelly needs and Vick is the closest QB out there who can run his style of offense. Although Kelly isn't going to run the same offense that he ran in Oregon anyway.

Vick is much better than the guys he had running it in Oregon. Vick is been maligned for the terrible OL he had these last 2 years. He'll never be a Brady or Rogers, but he can make a passing offense work. We saw it with the Eagles. The problem was the OL and coaches asking him to pass 35+ per game. He still had a pretty low Int%, for him (2.8%), and that was behind a line that PFF ranks 28th in pass protection. FO ranks them 26th.

And something that a few people seem to miss about the Eagles is that if their offensive line is fully healthy, it could be really, really good. Evan Mathis is the best left guard in football, Jason Peters is arguably a Top 5 left tackle, Todd Herremans is a very solid right tackle, and Jason Kelce has shown a lot of potential at center.